Draw-bar yoke



C. T. WESTLAKE AND C. S. SHALLENBERGER'.

-DRAW BAR YOKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-4,1918.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

UNITED sT-'A'rEs "PArElsrrv OFFICE.

CHARLES T. WESTLAKE AND CHARLES S. SHALLENBERGER, F ST. yLOUIS,*MISSOURL ASSIGNORS TO TRANSOM DRAFT GEAR COMPANY, 0F ST. LOUIS,MISSOURI, A COR- PORATION 0F DELAWARE. v

DRAW-BAR Yoxn.

Patented N ov. 2, 1920.

Application nled March 4, 1918. Serial No. 220,204.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that. we- CHARLES T. Wns'r- LAKE and CHARLES S.SHALLENBERGER, citizens of the United States, residing .at St. Louis,Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Draw BarYokes, of which the following is a full, clear,

` and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. c

Our invention relates generally to railway car constructiori\and moreparticularly to a yoke or connection betweena coupler drawbar and adraw-bar extension, the latter usuall being a part of the draftrigglng.. p

he prlnclpal objects of our inventlon are,

to generally improve' upon the exlsting types of yokes or connectionsbetween the draw-bars and extensions, and to provide a relativelysimple, inexpensive and eiiicient construction having great strength anddurability and which willl enable the coupler draw-bar and extension tobe quickly and conveniently connected, and likewise disconnected whenremova`l, displacement, or repairs are necessary. l

With the foregoing and other objects 1n view, our invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts,hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanyi j drawings, in which nlFigure l is an elevational view of ourimproved yoke in position upon a draw-bar and extension with a portionof said yoke broken away.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the yoke .connection in position on theadjacent ends of a drawbar and extension.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken ap-V proximately on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4is a cross section taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fi 5 is a cross section taken approximate y on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 10 designates acoupler shank or draw-bar and 11 an extension or draft member which isusually a part of the transom draft gear. The coupler shank 10 which isof the usual construction is providednear its rear end and on both topand (lottoln with transversely disposed shoulers The yoke or connectioncontemplated by our invention is made in two parts or halves-- disposedplate 13 with the sides of which are formed integral a pair of sideplates 14 and 15, the latter being arranged parallel with each other anddisposed at right angles to the plane occupied by plate 13. Portions ofthese side plates 14 and 15 are extended beyond the end of thehorizontal plate 13 as designated by 16 and formed through theseextensions are slots 17 which are adapted to receive a key 18, thelatter passing through a suitable opening formed in the outer end ofextension 11.

Formed integral with one end of the plate 13 and disposed between theends of side plates 14 and .15 opposite the ends provided with theextension 16 is a transversely disposed iiange 19, the inner face ofwhich bears directly against\the. corresponding shoulder 12 on theshank\10 when the two-part yoke or connection is assembled for use.

Projecting outwardly from the end of each side wall 14 opposite the endprovided with the Vextension 16 is a longitudinally disposed rib or lug20 and when the halves of the yoke are properly assembled, these lugs orribs 2O occupy horizontally disposed slots or recesses 21 which latterare formed in housings 22, the latter being formed in tegral with theside plates 15.

In order that the halves of the yoke may be properly assembled,vertically disposed notches or openings 23 are formed in the housings221 said openings leading into the rear portions of the grooves orrecesses 21 and enabling the ribs or iianges 20 to pass into said slotsor recesses.

l/Vhen the halves of the yoke are properly assembled, as illustrated inthe drawing, the

side wall 15 which is integral with the late 13 lying on top of theadjacent ends o. the shank 10 and extension 11, overlies side Wan 14which .is integral Wah the plate 13 beneath said shank andextenslon; andon thev opposite side of the connection the side vcupy the grooves onrecesses'21 in housings 22, 'thereby effectually preventing the halvesof the yoke from separating vertically and in order to 'firmly securetheparts 1n position, a bolt 24 is inserted through suitable l aperturesformed in the plates 13 and through the rear end of shank 10.

The pulling strains impressed on shank 1() aretransmitted to the twoparts of the yoke by the shoulders 12 which'engage directly against theshoulders or inner faces of the flanges 19 and these strains aretransmitted from the two parts of the l'oke to the extension 11 throughkey 18. hls key `which practically holds the halves of the yoke inassembled relation is preferably provided on one end with a head 18a andthe opposite end being provided with a series of apertures 18b which areadapted to recelve a cotter pin or the like and which latter holds thekey in place. l

The distance from the rear end of the coupler shank 10 to the shoulders12 frequently varies on the same shank and 1n order to insure theuniformity of transmittal of pulling strains between the two parts ofthe yoke upon the shoulders 12 thus located, the slots 17 whichaccommodate the width of the key so that in such cases, said key 18 aremade slightly longer than the key may tilt slightly in one direction orthe other and still hold the halves of the yoke in positions with theflanges 19 rectly against shoulders 12.

In assembling the halves ofthe yoke or connection, one haltl is placedslightly in advance of the other or in position so that the-lugs 20 onthe oppositely arranged side walls 14 will enter the openings 23 andafter this operation has been completed, the halves are shiftedlengthwise relative to each other for a short distance, thereby movingthe lugs or ianges 20 into the notches or recesses 21.

The key 18 is now inserted through the openings 17 and through theaperture in extension 11 after which 'bolt 24 is inserted through plates13 and shank 10.

It will be understood that the interengaging connection between theoverlapping parts of the yoke serves to retain the parts of the yoke inassembled relation upon the draw-bar and that the bolt 24 is only used las an auxiliary securing meansito hold the parts of the yoke together inthe event that key 18 should become displaced, and which action mightpermit the halves of the yoke to shift lengthwise relative to each othera bearing di-v igmeos sufiicient distance to Separate and detach4themselves from the end of coupler shank.

A yoke connection of our improved construction can be easily assembledand applied for use, provides a strong, rigid and substantial connectionbetween the draw-bar shankfand extension, can be readily removed to`facilitate repairsor renewal of parts, and is very effective intransmitting pulling and buiiing stresses from the coupler shank to theextension and vi'ce versa.

It will be readily' understood that minor changes in the size, -form andconstruction \of the various parts of our improved yoke connection maybe made and substituted for those herein shown and described, withoutdeparting from the spirit of our invention, the scope of which is setforth in the appended claims.

We claim: v

1. The combinationwith a draw-bar and draw-bar extension, of a yoke forconnecting said draw-bar and extension, said yoke comprising a pair ofinterchangeable members having pairs of overlapping side walls,

one Wall of each pair being provided with a substantially L-shaped slotand the companion wall of said pair being provided with an elongated lugwhich is adapted to enter the vertically disposed portion of the slot inthe adjacent wall when the members are moved toward each other and tooccupy the horizontally disposed portion Aof said slot when one memberis moved longitudinally with respect to the other.

2. The combination with a draw-bar and draw-bar extension, of a yoke forconnecting said draw-bar and extension, said yoke comprising a pair ofinterchangeable members having pairs of overlapping side walls, onewallof each pair being provided with a substantially L-shaped slot andthe companion wall of said pair being provided with an elongated lugwhich is adapted to enter thevertically disposed portion of the slot inthe adjacent wall when the members the horizontally 'disposed' portionof said slot when one member is moved longitudinally with respect to theother, and there being internally disposed shoulders formed on saidmembers, which shoulders are adapted to engage corresponding shoulderson the engaged draw-bar. j'

3. lfhe combination with a draw-bar and draw-bar extension, of a yokefor connecting said draw-bar and extension, said yoke comprising a pairof interchangeable members having pairs of overlapping side walls, onewall of each pair being provided with a substantially L-shaped slot andthe companion wall of said pair being provided with an elongated lugwhich is adapted to enter the vertically disposed portion of the slot inthe adjacent wall when-the members are moved toward each other and tooccupy the horizontally disposed portion of said vslot When one memberis moved longitudipanion Wall of said pair being providedwith anelongated lug which is adapted to enter the vertically disposed portionof the slot in the adjacent wall when the members are moved toward eachother and to occupy the horizontally disposed portion of said slot whenone member is moved longitudinally with respect to the other, therebeing internally disposed shoulders formed on said members, whichshoulders are adapted to engage corresponding shoulders on the engageddraw-bar, and said overlapping walls being provided with registering keyopenings.

5. In a connecting yoke of the class described, a pair ofinterchangeable members, each of which comprises a pair of connectedside walls, one wall of each member being provided on its inner faceWith ay substantially L-shaped slot, the horizontal leg of which iselongated and longitudinally disposed, and the other Wall being providedwith an elongated longitudinally disposed outwardly projecting portionwhich is adapted to engage in the slot 'of the companion member whensaid members are moved toward each other and one member movedlongitudinally relative to the other.

6. In a connecting yoke of the class described, a pair 'ofinterchangeable members, each of which comprises a pair of connectedside walls, one wall of each member being provided on its inner facewith a'substantially L-shaped slot, the horizontal leg of which iselongated and longitudinally disposed, the other wall being providedwith an elongated longitudinally disposed outwardly projecting portionwhich is adapted to engage in the slot of the companion member when saidmembers are moved'toward each other and one member moved longitudinallyrelative to the other, and there being registering key openings formedin said side walls.

7 In a connecting yoke of the class described, a pair of interchangeablemembers, each of which comprises a pair of connected side walls, onewall of each member being provided on its inner face with asubstantially L-shaped slot, the horizontal leg of which is elongatedand longitudinally disposed, the other wall being provided with anelongated longitudinally disposed outwardly projecting portion which isadapted to engage in the slot of the companion member when said membersare moved toward each other and one member moved longitudinally relativetothe other, and there being an internally disposed shoulder formed oneach member between the side Walls thereof.

In testimony whereof we hereunto alix our signatures this 27th day ofFebruary, 1918.

camas T. wEsrLAxs. CHARLES S. SHALLENBERGER.

